How can I copy a BASIC program?

[Andrew Crombleholme]

How can I copy a BASIC program from a text file to run on a spectrum emulator for the NDS? Do I need to convert to .z80 format or is it not that simple (or, indeed possible)?

Thanks

[Zorlon]

type it up on a PC ZX emu, then save it to a tape in the emu

there may be tools for doing this via a text file online but never heard of one

EDIT:

Google zmakebas

zmakebas converts text files containing Sinclair Spectrum Basic programs into tokenised Basic saved in .TAP format, ready to run on an emulator or the real thing. It also optionally provides labels as an alternative to line numbers.

if the DS version of the speccy doesn't support TAP just run the thing in a PC speccy emu and save a sna (snapshot of it loaded)

[Andrew Crombleholme]

Hi. Thanks. I was hoping for something a little simpler. I have found some old BASIC programs and just thought that I would be able to transfer them straight to an emulator (via Copy & Paste) and for it to run.

[Zorlon]

Hope you didn't miss my big EDIT

EDIT:

It's hard to find a dos compiled version so I will link you to a location to nab it from, most working links are either not compiled or Linux

ftp://cyberia.dnsalias.com/pub/filebase/gfd/dev/tool/

[Andrew Crombleholme]

Dude! Thanks very much. Only problem is - I'm lost when trying to use it!! lol I can't seem to see any instructions on usage.

[Zorlon]

open up a dos prompt/command prompt then type "CD "the path to the prog"" then type zmakebas

if that alone does not give you a help display try adding a space then ? or h then try -h -? or /h /?

though it may not have a built in help, not used the prog myself

I think from the readme though

zmakebas text.txt

should output a text.tap

hint:- for dos based apps it's best to have file names short with no spaces 8.3 e.g 12345678.txt

I would test for you but it won't work with a 64bit OS

Dosbox would work but I don't have that at the moment

EDIT tested in dosbos... doesn't seem to do anything

Just found http://www.zxmodules.de/

EDIT
forget the above I will do testing and get back to you...

Found something that works and I tested it aswell just to make sure

USE bas2tap25-win.zip extract it, then just drag n drop your txt files onto bas2tap.exe, it will output a tap file, tested it with a very small text file containing
10 PRINT "TEST"
20 GO TO 10
and this worked fine (LMAO at my programming skills)

After you could create a sna via a PC ZX emu

P.S. what zx basic progs have you found??

[Andrew Crombleholme]

Hi Zorlon - Firstly, thanks very much for the effort you are putting into helping me - much appreciated. secondly, I tried the bastap25 and it seemed to successfully output a TAP file, but it won't/can't/I don't quite know how to/ open it in Spectaculator to check it.

The BASIC programs I've found are here http://www.1000bit.it/support/manual...appendix_D.htm

I just wanted to test them out on the NDS emulator and try to remember how to program in BASIC - it's been 30 years since I last dabbled in program writing (I managed a small game written in machine code back in the day), but since then I haven't done any "grass roots" computing!! Just wanted to show my son what it was all about (ALAS! He doesn't really care, so it's become more about me!)

[Zorlon]

choose basic 128 or 48 open the virtual keyboard then hit J the ctrl held and PP that should give you Load "" then hit enter

this should give you a loading screen, start the tape hower you do that in that emu

once loaded
R then enter to run it

Something like "the quill" or another adventure game creator (gac or something I think was the other one Graphic Adventure Creator) might be more fun to start with, also available for the good old speccy, I even had Pascal and C+ for spectrum but they are not as fun

[Andrew Crombleholme]

Okay - got them working. Took a bit of memory searching but there were errors in the programs. All is well. many thanks Z.

[Jazzmarazz]

Hey Zorlon, why didn't you just go over to his house and help?

Also, is BASIC what runs on the Commodore 64?

[Zorlon]

Yeah C64 used basic as did most the 8 bit comps back in the day

My MSX, Acorn Electron (cheaper BBC Micro) and Amstrad CPC did plus a ton more

Only problem is some of the basic was slightly different between machines

[maca]

Hey Zorlon, why didn't you just go over to his house and help?

Also, is BASIC what runs on the Commodore 64?

BASIC isn't native to a CPU. A BASIC compiler converts the BASIC program into assembly, which is then assembled (converted to machine code) which the CPU runs. BASIC just offers an alternative to programming in assembly but games would have being programmed in assembly. The C64 had a slightly modified version of the 6502 processor, which is what the NES had.